These recordings have hardly been out of the catalogue
since they were recorded in the late 1950s. They were laid down at the same
time as a series of concerts at the Royal Festival Hall. My cousin, who
is older than me, attended these and still talks about them in awe. My first
memories of Klemperer’s Beethoven were his performances in the early
1970s, shown on the BBC. These seemed very slow and ponderous but the recorded
cycle dates from fifteen years earlier and I enjoyed them, particularly
the Pastoral, in the late 1980s. However, it’s been
some time since I’ve heard them. EMI Classics, for whom Klemperer
recorded, have re-released the entire Symphonies and Overtures, including
the mono recordings of 3, 5 and 7 in a budget box of 10 CDs. That’s
on EMI 4 04275 2 but typically, these recordings have not re-mastered:
the mastering comes from the 1990s, apart from the Pastoral,
which was re-mastered in 2003 as a GROC.
My colleague Christopher Howell described that disc as follows: “The
recordings still sound very fine; this is Beethoven you must have. As long
as you don’t have only this Beethoven”. Having reacquainted
myself with these middle symphonies in the present splendid transfers, taken
from LPs, I can only concur.

The Fourth is a classic recording and been highly commended
since its release. The Philharmonia were, based on studio and live recordings,
the finest orchestra in the world at the time, and the playing throughout
is top class. The detail of the instruments comes through and it helps that
Klemperer, like many of the “Old School” divides his first and
second violins, left and right to get the antiphonal sound that Beethoven
wanted. The first movement goes at a fair rate and the second movement is
sublime. The horn player at the end of the movement is Alan Civil who replaced
the great Dennis Brain, who had tragically been killed two months earlier.
The wit of the third movement is well conveyed and comes over as if at a
live concert. Great sound too in the finale: granite-like comes to mind.
This all serves to confirm this as one of the great Fourth,
along with Walter (Sony), Karajan 1962 (DG) and Norrington (EMI).

The stereo Fifth has sometimes been unfavourably compared
with the mono version, recorded in 1955. However, on its own terms it’s
a fine performance. Klemperer recorded the symphony three times in less
than ten years; the earliest being with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (Vox)
which I haven’t heard for a long time but is craggy, just like the
other two.

The Pastoral is quite simply one of the finest versions ever
set down. It’s up there with Toscanini, BBC 1936, Walter, Boult and
Stokowski. Right from the start there is rhythm and forward momentum. I
compared the Pristine with the EMI Classics. In the first movement; whilst
there is more bass in the former I found the sound slightly clearer in the
EMI, though both are very good. The original recording was first class,
produced by the unique Walter Legge (Mr Elizabeth Schwarzkopf). I suspect
those who grew up with the LP will prefer the Pristine version. The first
two movements are relatively uncontroversial and delightfully convey the
joy of this piece; especially the splendid wind playing. The third movement,
“Peasants’ merrymaking” has been the subject of folklore
since Legge complained of the slow speed. Klemperer retorted “You’ll
get used to it, Walter!” Well I have always got used to it, seeing
Klemperer’s vision of old men dancing, possibly having over-imbibed!
The storm is very powerful and the final movement is intensely moving and
beautifully played. A Pastoral for special occasions like
Eeyore’s birthday.

Finally we have the orchestration by Felix Weingartner of the Grosse
Fuge, which I have on a budget EMI
reissue. I can only endorse Christopher Howell’s recommendation.
If you want to hear this work - wrongly titled according to Hans Keller
- by an orchestra, rather than by a string quartet, then this is one to
go seek out. The sound, from 1956 is admirable - like that achieved for
all the recordings here.

Whilst for many people the EMI set is to be preferred the Pristine set is
excellent and may well also suit those who want only these works. Listening
to these wonderful performances and reviewing them has been a real privilege.

David R Dunsmore

Excellent transfers of treasured performances … deserving a place
in the collection of all Beethoven lovers.